Fiji's interim Prime Minister, also the army chief, Commodore Bainimarama, warned New Zealand and Australia Saturday to expect retaliation if they continue to " ignore and frustrate" his administration.

Radio New Zealand International reported the warning came after Commodore Bainimarama said the new head of the Prime Minister's Office, Pramesh Chand, was denied entry into New Zealand to visit his family.

As head of the army, Commodore Bainimarama seized power in a bloodless coup on Dec. 5. New Zealand banned travel here by anyone appointed to the new administration. It is the fourth coup in Fiji since 1987.

He said his administration has been acting kindly toward New Zealand and Australia to give them a chance to accept the situation and help Fiji move forward.

But in a written statement, Commodore Bainimarama has implied he might retaliate against the two countries' multimillion-dollar export trade with Fiji and expatriates working in Fiji.

New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said Saturday that the military general's threats only demonstrated how badly he has misread international opposition to the coup.

Peters said he was unmoved by the threats.

Source: Xinhua